Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-20
THE ROBBER CHIEF.

Ii one of the fertile wales at the base
Of the Sierra Madre mountains the fam
Gus Alcade de Mendana controlled the
affairs of the region. Among the inhabi-
tants of the hills, the bandits and their
Iawless friends, this same man was known
as "Don Carlos, the Robber Chief" but so
well was his secret kept by those &C.
quainted with it that no whisper of his
unholy connection ever polluted the air
of the valley over which he held sway,
AS Don Carlos he conducted his out
RACES with all the courtesy of robber of
romance, being liberal to the poor with
what he gained from the rich, and, while
often cruel, ne would sometimes exhibit
such seeming generosity toward
his victims, or those in his power, that
his virtues were loudly sung by the easy
going multitude, while his wrong doing
was only whispered, and most oharitably
CLOSED over.
From Sonora, on a chilly evening in
January, IS, the coach which travelled
the old road to chihuahua was well filed
with passengers, all of whom, by display
of arms as well asby personal appearance
seemed to be possessed of pro perty worth
defending; and weapons were necessary,
for the road to be trayersed was notori-
OuSly infested by TODDefS.
In the party were q gentle, timid old
lady AID her black-eyed, vivacious, beauti-
full niece, Marie de Navarro, sole child
and orphan of the noble Count de Navar-
ia, who, dying, left his motherless child
to the care of her dead mothers sister:
and with this aunt the charming girl had
passed her early life in Sonora.
Good as beautiful, and with all the
frankness of innocense, Marie entered
into unrestrained conversation with her
fellow travellers. Naturally, the talk
settled into experiences of each, or their
friends, in connection with robbers and
robberies, and this continued long, dread
inducing wakefulness. But at last fatigue
and slumber conquered, and all were
sound asleep, despite the terrible joiting
of the clumsy vehicle.
A very sudden pull-up of the horses
and halt of the coach betOkened that
something had happened" and in an
instant every one was wide awake-awake
to see, surrounding and peering In on
every side, fierce, dark, wild, and wicked
forces, made more hideous by the dim
flicker of the rude torches the men car
ried.
The passengers were made to dismount
and stand in row, while the brigands
hastily pillaged them of their valuables.
Somewhat apart from the others were
Marie and her aunt. They were the last
to be serrched, and the cool-headed girl
occupied the time in keen observations.
Though the darkness she could discern
the figure of man on horseback, evil
IDENTIFY in command, though he took no
part IN the active plundering.
When rude desperate approached
Marie and her aunt, and the light of the
torch fell full upon her beautiful pale
and determined face, she placed herself
before her aged relative: II have no
wealth worth your taking; we do not car
nv our treasures with us. My aunt, Meth
er has anything OF value. and the first
of you that lays hand upon her or men
the rounded arm few out fercely, and
in the little hand was firmly grasped a
keen, long stilletto.
Staggered for a moment by this most
unexpected opposition, the ruffian start
ed back, with a half oath and half laugh.
and was about to grasp the girl when,
from the gloom, was heard voice.
"The senoras are not to be molested.
We harm no children or women"
With the laugh turned to angry male